DX delivers the goods as it narrows losses and improves sales March 5, 2019 DX Group hailed “encouraging progress” in its half-year results today as it narrowed losses and boosted revenue. Read more: St Modwen cashes in on fast-growing logistics sector as asset values rise The results Revenue rose seven per cent year on year to £157m while its loss before tax dropped from £14.1m in the same period [...]
British American Tobacco hit with £436m damages claim from Canada court cases March 5, 2019 British American Tobacco (BAT) has taken a £436m charge related to Canadian court cases, it said today. Read more: No smoke without fire in BAT boardroom The tobacco giant must pay the money to smokers from Quebec who said cigarette firms did not warn them of the risks associated with smoking. The companies at fault [...]
Theresa May tweets picture of Bath on anniversary of Salisbury Novichok attack March 4, 2019 Theresa May mistakenly tweeted a picture of Bath with a message marking the one year anniversary of the Novichok incident in Salisbury today. Read more: Military to dismantle Salisbury home of poisoned Russian spy The Prime Minister’s tweet used a picture of Bath’s St John Roman Catholic Church, confusing it with Salisbury Cathedral’s 123-metre long [...]
Aviva names insurance veteran as new CEO as it aims to boost shareholder returns March 4, 2019 Aviva has appointed a new chief executive five months after sacking former boss Mark Wilson, saying it had “much further to go” to enhance shareholder value. The insurer has named company veteran Maurice Tulloch as its new boss effective immediately, who will leave his position as boss of Aviva’s international business. I am honoured to [...]
Strong and stable: London extends lead as Europe’s top hub for unicorn startups March 1, 2019 London has cemented its status as the home of more young billion-dollar tech companies than any other European city, taking home the crown for ten consecutive years. Read more: Female fintech leaders highlighted as sector battles gender imbalance The number of so-called unicorn startups – private businesses valued at $1bn (£752.6m) and founded after 2000 [...]
Profits plunge at advertising giant WPP as it warns of ‘challenging’ 2019 March 1, 2019 Profit before tax plummeted at advertising giant WPP last year as it repeated its warning about a challenging 2019, but shares rose as the media firm beat low market expectations Read more: Martin Sorrell regrets nothing after WPP exit amid misconduct allegations The figures Profit before tax dropped 30.6 per cent to £1.46bn compared to [...]
William Hill swings to £722m loss for 2018 after regulatory changes hit bottom line March 1, 2019 William Hill fell to a staggering loss of £722m last year, it confirmed today, as the bookmaker recommitted to meeting guidance for 2019. Read more: William Hill confirms likely 2018 profit drop The figures The gambling firm swung to a loss of £721.9m in 2018, down from 2017’s profit before tax of £146.5m. Revenue rose [...]
Insurer Hastings adds more customers as it grows profits and revenue February 28, 2019 Hastings’ share price ticked upwards today as it profit and revenue climbed in 2018 even as customer growth slowed. The figures Profit after tax rose three per cent year on year to £130.6m as revenue rose five per cent to £756.4m, compared to 2017’s £715.6m. Gross written premiums also climbed three per cent to £958.3m. [...]
Aston Martin shares crash 18 per cent as investment bank warns car maker may ask investors for cash February 28, 2019 Aston Martin’s shares veered off the road today to fall 18 per cent on huge 2018 losses as at least one financial adviser urged investors to dump their shares. The luxury car maker made a loss before tax of £68.2m as the costs of its October initial public offering (IPO) weighed the British firm down. [...]
Aston Martin shares drop as it falls to a loss and sets aside £30m for Brexit February 28, 2019 Aston Martin fell to a £70m loss in 2018 as it counted the cost of floating on the stock market, it revealed today, capping a year in which its disappointing debut saw shares lose a third of their value. The figures The luxury car manufacturer fell to a £68.2m loss before tax last year, down [...]
